Planners Peeved by Cold Calls

The hard sell isn't the best way for suppliers to impress meeting professionals. Two-thirds of the 242 respondents to a recent M&C survey said unsolicited sales pitches are "not very" or "not at all" useful. E-mail is the preferred way to receive information, cited by 81 percent. Forty percent still like to receive direct mail. However, one-third wish all the marketing would stop, and another 65 percent simply ignore or discard information that is not relevant. Among verbatim comments: "I have Google. I will find them if I need them." For more, visit mcmag.com/
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63% of meeting professionals believe they receive too much unsolicited material from suppliers.

50% think suppliers have become more aggressive in their sales efforts in recent years.

96% prefer to communicate via e-mail when not meeting in person.

1% find unsolicited sales pitches "very useful."

50% say fam trips are helpful in developing supplier relationships.

            

82% say word of mouth from other planners is the most effective attention-getter.

           


Source: M&C Research survey of 242 meeting professionals